The parish of Swanton Morley lies almost at the geographic centre of Norfolk, sitting about 3 miles northeast of the market town of East Dereham. Swanton Morley is a large village which sprawls for almost a mile and a half along the B1147 road which connects East Dereham with Holt. Whilst Swanton Morley was primarily an agricultural community, roughly 4/5 arable with pastures along the floodplain of the nearby River Wensum. For much of this transcript period employment was provided by an extensive paper manufactory on the banks of said river. As can be seen from the father's employment a substantial number found work there. In more recent times Swanton Morley air-base, used by Bomber Command during World War 2, is now occupied by the Army as Robertson Barracks and provides some employment to the local population. Recent development has expanded the southern end of the village to accommodate commuters for nearby East Dereham and the city of Norwich not too far away to the east.

All Saints' church sits on a set of double bends on the B1147 as it begins its fall into the Wensum valley and as such has a commanding view over that valley. A large church as befits a large village, Pevsner describes the church as "big & proud" and "historically outstandingly interesting"; praise indeed from such a source. The reason for the enthusiasm relates to the excellent documentary records of the Morley family which enable the features of architectural style to be accurately dated, a subject dear to Pevsner's heart. Work had started prior to documents of 1379 and was still in progress when further documents of 1440 were dated, work was likely to have almost entirely have been completed between 1350 & 1450 and the style is almost totally Perpendicular. Of course the church is not entirely of that period, the Victorians made their usual changes, in this case in 1878 adding a northern vestry as well as replacing many of the windows. The church sits on the eastern side of the B1147 behind a brick-topped flint wall with post and rail fencing too and faces open fields. The main access path, gravelled, leads away in a dogleg from properties close to the junction of Rectory Road. There are a few trees grouped around the southeastern corner which do somewhat limit the angles available for photography.